406 Mr. Forsayeth on the life-history of 



fur. The imagines are very sluggish, and are indisposed 

 for flight during the day. 



Megasoma venustum, Walk. 

 Mhow, August 27th, 1.881. 



Larvae very common on leaves of Babul and Ber trees 

 in Central India ; they vary in their markings at various 

 stages of growth, so that figures, unless all taken 

 at the period of most complete development, will be 

 found to differ considerably. The full-grown specimens 

 are characterised by X semi-lunar double markings on 

 the dorsum, as in figure. At the ends of these markings 

 minute red papillte exist armed with spines, but having 

 no irritating properties. At the anterior commissure of 

 the semi-lunar markings a light blue spot exists. General 

 colour of larva a greyish brown. Tufts of long simple 

 hairs at lateral margins of segments, with shorter 

 dilated hairs amongst their roots. Two peculiar trans- 

 verse patches of short coloured hairs ornament the 

 dorsum of the thorax. When the larva is irritated these 

 patches open out from within, and display deep blue- 

 brown hairs, with a line of reddish orange in front of 

 each. When quiescent these patches are denoted by a 

 mere line of blue, with red in front and white behind. 

 Abdomen of larvae black, with a yellowish-white spot on 

 each segment. 



I have found full-grown larvae as above, but without 

 the X markings ; these are very rare, and on being 

 bred developed the same imagines as the other speci- 

 mens. 



The cocoon is hammock- shaped, formed on a twig of 

 the Acacia tree, attached along whole length of one side, 

 and is formed of strong whitish or brown silk. On its 

 external surface are coloured bars, formed apparently by 

 the attachment of the short hairs on the dorsum of the 

 thorax of the larva. The cocoons are generally formed 

 in a perpendicular position, the head of the pupa being 

 upwards. 



Pupa rather cylindrical in shape, clothed with fine 

 hairs, of a brownish-red colour. Female much larger 

 than male. 



Imagines, both male and female, extremely sluggish 

 by day, and even by night the female does not appear to 

 move about. The wings of the female are occasionally 



